Ronda Rousey’s road to WrestleMania was reportedly set to unfold differently, but plans changed, and Rousey herself pushed for a direction.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that Rousey was originally scheduled to defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Raquel Rodriguez at WWE Royal Rumble, where she would have retained the title. Per sources, this had been the plan until December, but creative couldn’t be agreed on as WrestleMania season began.
Sapp then noted that Ripley’s Royal Rumble win had been the plan for quite some time, and she was set to challenge Rousey for the title at WWE WrestleMania 39, whereas Charlotte Flair would have challenged Bianca Belair for the RAW Women’s Championship upon her return.
Sources familiar with the situation reportedly stated that Rousey pushed for her tag team with Shayna Baszler, and that she preferred this direction. Sapp wrote that Rousey’s match with Rodriguez was moved up a month, and Flair’s return was changed to the impromptu title match on the December 30 episode of WWE SmackDown.
Rousey and Baszler will compete in the Women’s WrestleMania Showcase Match at WrestleMania 39, and Flair will defend her title against Rhea Ripley.
